Question

Difficulty: MediumClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

Match each client care task to the most appropriate healthcare team member and corresponding scope of practice principle.

  • Completing the initial comprehensive admission assessment for a newly admitted client.Registered Nurse (RN) responsibility - Comprehensive Assessment
  • Administering scheduled oral pain medication to a stable client.Practical Nurse (PN) scope of practice - Routine Implementation
  • Emptying a surgical drain and recording the output amount.Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) delegation - Routine Task
  • Formulating and updating the client's initial nursing care plan.Registered Nurse (RN) responsibility - Care Plan Development

Answer

Initial comprehensive admission assessment matches RN responsibility for comprehensive assessment; administering scheduled oral pain medication matches PN scope of practice; emptying a surgical drain matches UAP delegation; formulating the care plan matches RN responsibility for care plan development.
Safe delegation requires matching the task complexity and client stability to the caregiver's legal scope of practice. The RN is responsible for the nursing process's assessment and planning phases. The PN is responsible for implementing routine care for stable clients, and the UAP handles standard, routine tasks that do not require nursing judgment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the task: Completing the initial comprehensive admission assessment.
Matches Registered Nurse (RN) responsibility - Comprehensive Assessment.
The RN is legally responsible for the initial comprehensive assessment; the PN can only gather subsequent data.
2
Analyze the task: Administering scheduled oral pain medication to a stable client.
Matches Practical Nurse (PN) scope of practice - Routine Implementation.
Medication administration for stable clients is a fundamental PN responsibility.
3
Analyze the task: Emptying a surgical drain and recording the output amount.
Matches Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) delegation - Routine Task.
This is a standard procedure that does not require nursing judgment and is safely delegated to UAPs.
4
Analyze the task: Formulating and updating the client's initial nursing care plan.
Matches Registered Nurse (RN) responsibility - Care Plan Development.
Care plan formulation requires synthesis and advanced judgment, which falls outside the PN and UAP scopes of practice.

Key Concept

Scope of practice and safe delegation principles for the RN, PN, and UAP.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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